Printing press



May 5, i953 J. R. EMERY, JR 2,637,336

PRINTING PRESS Filed May 15, 195o 2 sHEETsnsHEET 1 A TTORNE Y J. R.EMERY, JR

PRINTING PRESS May 5, 1953 flllllllllvl 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 13,1950 JNVENToR. JvML-S E/wffx/e A TTORNE Y Patented Mey 5, 1953 T GFFICEPRHNTING PRESS .lames R. Emery, Jr., Teaneck, N. 3.

Application May 13, 1950, Serial No. 161,873

4 Claims. l

This invention relates to printing presses of the 'off-set type, whichare characterized, at least in part, by the fact that the aqueoussolution which is employed to meisten the image plate under operatingconditions is delivered to that pl'ate from relatively shallow tray-likefountain by means of a series of rollers arranged horiz'htally anddisposed in a parallel and contiguous relation to each other, one ofsaid rollers, namely, the 'so-called fountain roller being so mutatedwith reference to the fountain that as peripheral face is 'partiallysubmerged in said solution.

According to present day practice, the press operator is required, ihaddition to his other duties, to maintain the aqueous solution at properlvl to insure satisfactory results in the printing operation, it being'noted in this connection that if the fountain roller is submerged tosubstantially 'a lesser extent than is illustrated in Figure 2 theprinting becomes blurred or smeared and that if the liquid level israised to a greater eX- tent than vone-siiiteenth inch above the levelillustiated the printing becomes faint or indistinct.

At present, maintenance of the solution at a satisfactory level isaccomplished only at the expense of much loss in time during the courseof a days run as will be readily appreciated when it is taken intoaccount that the machine must be stopped, as a matter of due precaution,each time the operator supplies, as by pouring from a container, thenecessary amount of solution to meet the fountain requirements. Here itshould be nbted that frequently during the course of a days run. theoperator, when replenishing the fountain, inadvertently pours into thesame an excessive amount of solution, thus raising the liquid lev'elt'oc high for satisfactory results so that it becomes necessary, at afurther expense of time, to carefully remove the excess, as by a sponge,to attain the proper liquid level.

The pronounced frequency with which the solution replenishing operationsoccur during the course of a days run is not due to the fact that anygreat quantity of the solution is required during the lcourse of such arun but rather to the fact that the volume of solution available betweenallowable maximum and minimum liquid level's is so small that it isinsuiiicient to meet the requirements of the machine for longer than arelatively small fractional part of an hour.

An important object of the present invention is to obvat'e the aboveobjections peculiar to printing presses of the character mentioned and tthis", and other ends, the invention contemplates a simple, reliable,efficient and relatively inexpensive liquid-supply unit adapted to bereadily installed in the standard press without necessitating any changein press construction, the unit being characterized by the fact that itincludes a normally closed reservoir adapted for the storage of asubstantial volume of aqueous solution, which, under the governingoperation of hydro-statically controlled delivery means associated withsaid reservoir, is automatically transmitted to the fountain so as tomaintain the solution therein at a proper operating level at all times.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in Which- Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing one embodimentof the present invention mounted in operating position with relation tothe conventional fountain of a printing press,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on line 2-2 ofFigure 1 and illustrating, in relation to the fountain roller, theliquid level at which delivery of the solution from the reservoir to thefountain is initiated,

Fig. 3 is Vertical sectional View of the adjustable support on which thereservoir is mounted,

Fig. 4 is a fragmental, sectional view, showing the unit as it wouldappear from the right in Figure 2,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, sectional View taken 'on line 5--5 of Figure 4,the fountain and fountain roller being omitted in the interest ofclarity,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially online 6 5 of Figure 2 and illustrating, in relation to the lower end ofthe inverted control bell, the liquid level at which delivery of thesolution from the reservoir to the fountain is initiated,

Fig. '7 is a fragmental view showing the control bell as it would appearwhen viewed from below in a direction perpendicular to the horizontalplane of line i-l of Figure 6, and Y Fig. 8 is a fragmental perspectiveview showing the knife like edge which is presented by the control bellat the lower end thereof. l

The typical ofi-set press, with which the present invention is adapted.for use, includes a shallow tray-like fountain lll, suitably supportedin a horizontal position and adapted to carry an aqueous solution whichis indicated generally by the numeral l i and which, as is well knownVin the art, serves as a moistening agent for the conventional imageplate, not shown. The solution I I is delivered from the fountain Ill bythe usual series of suitably supported rollers, of which only theso-called fountain roller I2 and its associated delivery roller I3 areherein indicated, the former being depicted in full lines in Figures 1,2 and 4 and the latter being outlined in broken lines in Figures 1 and2.

The liquid-supply unit, herein illustrated as one embodiment of thepresent invention is indicated generally bythe numeral Iii and visadaptedVas shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, to be mounted on one of thefountain-supporting members with which the conventional off-set press isequipped.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 4, it will be noted that theunit I4 includes,v a disk-like metal base I5 provided with a laterallyextending ledge-like flange I6.' To-the base I5 there is screwthreadedly connected the lower end of a transparent cylinder Il ofsuitable plastic material.. In order to insure an air and liquidvtightconnection between the base I5 and the cylinder Il, the meeting surfacesof these two elements are coated with a suitable cement before thecylinder is run down into abutting engagement with the flange I8.

Carried by the plastic cylinder II' in a protective relation thereto, isa metal cylinder I 8, the lower end of which engages the flange I6.Thecylinder I 8 snugly lits the cylinder I'I and is'secured theretothrough the medium of a coating of suitable cement applied to one orboth of these cylinders before assembling them in a telescopic relation,the cement thus employed serving to provide an effective air sealbetween the outer surface of the inner-cylinder and the inner surface ofthe outer cylinder.

To the upper end of the cylinder I8 and in air tight union therewith,there is suitably connected a metal cover I9 having a filling openingdefined by an an upwardly vextending screw threaded flange 20, adaptedto receive a removable closure cap 2I, affording an air tight sealfors'aid opening. y

From the foregoing description ofthe unit I4,

it becomes apparentthat the base I5, cylinders.

I'I-I8, cover I9 and cap 2I collectively constitute areservoir R adaptedfor the reception of'a solutionI I which -is vof the same character asthe solution II hereinbeforeV mentioned and which, as will hereinaftermore clearly appear, is adapted to be delivered to the fountain I0 in acontrolled manner so as to maintain the liquid level in the fountain ata proper operatin level at all times. Y N

It is desirable, of course, thatthe operator be able to readily observethe interior of the-reservoir R so that he may be prompted to introduceadditional liquid into the reservoir as required and in order that hemay guard against -lling the reservoir to an extent greater than, say,three-fourths full, thus insuring the existence of a satisfactory airspace between the liquid content and the reservoir cover I9 when pressoperation is resumed after the filling operation is carried out.

Reservoir observation for the purposes just mentioned isreadily-.possible in connection with the present embodiment of thisinvention, sincey the metal cylinder. I8 is provided with diametricallyopposite, vertically elongated window-likev openings 22 which exposeportions of the transparent cylinder 'I'I through which the liquidcontent of the reservoir may be readily viewed. Here, it is to beobserved that before the cap 2| is removed preparatory to replenishingthe supply of liquid Il', it becomes necessary to guard againstuncontrolled delivery to the fountain I0 of such liquid as may remain inthe reservoir prior to the refilling operation and of such liquid as isbeing introduced into the reservoir While the refilling operation isbeing carried out. To this end, there is provided a convenientlyaccessible manually operated valve, indicated generally by the numeral23 and hereinafter more particularly described.4

According to the present invention, transfer ofthe liquid content fromthe reservoir R to the fountain I0 is governed by hydro-staticallycontrolled means herein illustrated as including an air `tubel 24, aliquid tube 25 and a control bell 2E.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 4, it will be noted that theair and liquid tubes 24 and 25, respectively, are disposed verticallywithin the reservoir R and project downwardly through the base I5 towhich they are so secured; as to form therewith an air and liquid tightunion, the

air tube 24 being of such length that it extends well above the upperend of the liquid tube 2,5. In order that the liquid tube 25 may be fedat various points along its submerged length to insure delivery of thesolution in a well mixed condition, such tube is providedrwith a seriesof relatively small inlet orices 2'! arranged inV a spaced relationalong the length of that tube.

In View of the nature of the orifices 21 and their disposition withrelation to each other, it becomes apparent that should thesolution varyin concentration as to one or more of its constituents at differentdepths, such portions of thel differently concentrated solution as arereceived by the liquid tube 25 commingle with each other and aredelivered to the fountain I0 as a well mixed solution II containing thesame percentages of the constituents which'make up theA reservoirsolution I I in its entirety. The control bell 26 is connected in adepending relation to the base I5 of the reservoir R by a pair of screws28 and is provided, as shown most clearly in Figure 6,v with a pair ofopenings 29-30 adapted to accommodate the lower endsv of the air andliquid tubes 24 and 25, respec-V tively.

As shown most clearly inl Figures 6 and '7,tll1elaf valve 23hereinbefore mentioned is of the rotaryr cone type and is so mounted inthe control bell 26 at a point below the lower end of the liquid tube 25as to enable the operator to establish or sever communication betweenthat tube and theexit end of the opening 43Il,`which opening may beregarded, in effect, as a continuation of the liquidtube itself. Inorder to render the valve' 23 easily accessible to the operator, suchvalve 'f is equipped with a relatively vlong shaft-like stem 3!projecting outwardly from beneath the reservoir R and provided at itsouter end with a T-handle 32. with the type of valve 23 herein shown,such valve is so maintained, as by the'usual com-l As is' customary inconnection' pheric under certain conditions of operation, as willhereinafter more clearly appear.

The above mentioned chamber which is open at its lower end, is ofsubstantial height. as measured vertically along its relatively thinwall 3H, and is of such lateral dimensions that its volumetric capacityis relatively large.

For the purpose hereinafter particularly mentioned, the lower margin ofthe wall 3tlis reduced to a sharp or knife-like edge throughout itslinear extent, as will be understood from an inspection of Figures 6, `7and 8, and, as shown best in Figure 6, is shaped throughout one of itsside lengths to present a slightly arched contour with reference to ahorizontal plane such as that represented by the surface of the solutionIl after it has dropped to such position, as shown in Figure 6, as toinitiate a. flow of solution from the reservoir R to the fountain l byway of the liquid 'tube 2B.

In order that the reservoir R may be mounted on the printing press inaccordance with the maximum extent to which it is desired to submergethe fountain roller l2 under operating conditions, there is provided anadjustable bracket 35, which, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4,includes an l.-shaped support 36, the horizontal leg of which issuitably connected to the base l5 of the liquid-supply unit lli and thevertical leg of which is provided with an elongated slot 31. Referringespecially to Figures l, 2, 3 and 4, it will be noted that the bracketfurther includes a pair of clamp-blocks 38 which are adapted to berigidly connected to the usual fountain-supporting member, by a clampscrew 38, and that one of said blocks is provided with a channel-likeguide di? within which is aocmnmodated the vertical leg of the L-shapedsupport 36 so that such support may be vertically adjusted to attain thedesired elevation of the reservoir R with relation to the fountainroller I2. Once the reservoir has been adjusted to its proper position,such position may be maintained by locking the support 3S againstdisplacement, as by a suitable retaining screw 4! carried by one of theclamp blocks 38 and accommodated within the slot 3l of said support.

It will be understood, of course, that the conventional fountain-cover42, which is provided with o. series of transverse reinforcing members43 (a pair of which are shown in Figure 2) may be cut away to provide anotch-like opening 44 adapted to accommodate the control bell 25.

From the foregoing description of the present embodiment of thisinvention, it becomes apparent, under the liouid-level conditionspeculiar to Figure 6, that solution il is permitted to pass downwardlyfrom the reservoir R into the fountain Il! by way of the liquid tube 25while air is being drawn upwardly from the control bell 26 into saidreservoir by Way of the air tube 24. Since the solution I l is suppliedto the fountain Il] at a rate in excess of that at which the solution IIis removed from the fountain under the action of the fountain roller l2,it follows that the reservoir solution quickly rises into such contactwith the lower edge of the skirtlike wall 3E as to form an effective airseal therewith. After such air seal is established. further passage ofthe solution H downwardly through the liquid tube 25 quickly sets up a.partial vacuum within the control bell En, the air tube 24 and the spaceabove the solution H remaining in the reservoir R, with the result thatthe delivery of reservoir solution is discontinued due to the existenceor a negative air- 6 pressure `above that solution. vHere it should benoted that although a portion Mof the fountain solution is lifted ordrawn up into the control bell 26 while the partial vacuum is beingcreated therein such liquid riem at most only to a negligible extentabove the lower edge of the Wall 34 at its highest point which isrepresented by the mid point on the arched contour of one of its sidelengths.

The above mentioned partial vacuum is maintained until such time as thelevel of the fountain solution H is so lowered, under the action of"thefountain roller I2, as to open the control bell 26 to theoutsidehatmosphere, whereupon the partial vacuum within that bell aswell as within the air tube and the reservoir R is destroyed with theresult that another delivery cycle, corresponding to that abovedescribed, is automatically carried out in replenis-hing the fountainsolution H from the reservoir solution l I'.

Since the replenishing operation of the device herein illustrated asembodying the present invention is lautomatically initiated at about theinstant the liquid level of the fountain solution il drops to the planeof the lower edge of the wall Sli and inasmuch as that operation isautomatically discontinued at about the instant the liquid level of thatsolution rises -at most to only a negligible extent above the lower edgeof the wall 3d at its highest point, it follows, as will be wellappreciated from an inspection of Figure 6, that the fountain solutionis maintained between relatively close maximum and minimum liquidlevels. In practice, a liquid-level differential, as between maximum andminimum, or only one-sixteenth inch has been found highlysatisfactoryand may be attained by arching one of the side lengths ofthe wall 3i to that dimension, 'suchn arching of that wall length, inthe .presence of its knife-like edge, serving to so break the surfacetension of the fountain solution Il as permit that solution to readilyfree itself from the knife-like edge of said wall length and thus openthe control bell 26 to the surrounding atmosphere as the fountainsolution drops to a level corresponding to the extreme lower end of saidwall.

What is claimed is:

l. For use in a printing press of the type including a roller operatingin only a partially submerged condition with relation to an aqueoussolution carried within a fountain and there required to be maintainedbetween relatively close maximum and minimum operating levels; aliquid-supply unit including a reservoir adapted for the reception of aliquid to be delivered to said fountain, hydro-statically controlledmeans governing the delivery of liquid from said reservoir to saidfountain so as to maintain the fountain solution between said operatinglevels and including a control bell associated with said reservoir andhaving a depending skirt-like wall dening an air chamber adapted to openinto said fountain and within which liquid is adapted to rise and fallto an extent comparable with the diiTerence between said operatinglevels, the lower end of said skirt-like wall terminating in differenthorizontal planes one spaced above the other in accordance with thedifference between said operating levels, an air tube leading from saidchamber into said reservoir, a liquid tube leading from said reservoirto said chamber.

2. For use in a printing press of the type including a roller operatingin only a partially submerged condition with relation to an aqueoussolutiolcarriedifwithinafountainand'ftherefreq'uiredto bemaintainedbetween'relatively close maximu1n-=^and minimuzn operating= levels; aliquid-supply` unit including a reservoir adapted for'thereceptionpfaliquidto be delivered to said fountain;fhydrclstaticallycontrolled' meansv governing the deliveryf of `liquid from saidreservoir to said fountain so as to maintain the fountain solutionlbetween said operating levels and including a controhbellassociated-with said reservoir and having a depending skirt-like walldefining chamber adapted to open intqsaidfoun- `"sindwithin"wlflicliliquid is adapted to rise and fall to an extent comparable with thedilerence between said -operating levels, a portion of the lower end ofsaid skirt-like wall being arched upwardly to a vertical extentcomparable with the difference between said operating levels, an airtube leading from said chamber into said reservoir, a liquid tubeleading from said reservoir to said chamber.

3. For use in a printing press of the type including a roller operatingin only a partially submerged condition with relation to an aqueoussolution carried within a fountain and there required to be maintainedbetween relatively close maximum and minimum operating levels; aliquid-supply unit including a reservoir adapted for the reception of aliquid to be delivered to said fountain, hydro-statically controlledmeans governing the delivery of liquid from said reservoir to saidfountain so as to maintain the fountain solution between said operatinglevels and including a control bell associated with said reservoir andhaving a depending skirt-like wall defining i an air chamber adapted toopen into said fountain and within which liquid is adapted to rise andfall to an extent comparable with the diierence between said operatinglevels, the lower end of said skirt-like wall presenting a knife-likeedge lying in different horizontal planes one spaced above the other inaccordance with the dilerence between said operating levels, an air tubeleading 8 fosa'id chambi'ifinto said reservoirfaliquid tube leadingfromv said reservoir to said'chamb'er'.

4."For`use i'na fprinting press of .the type, includi'ngavrolleroperating in only a partially submerged condition jwith relationto an aqueous s'lution'carried'within a fountain and therere'- quiredkto be maintained between relatively close maximum anfd minimum operatinglevels;,lY a liquid-supply unit including a reservoir adapted for-thereception Yof a liquid to be delivered to said fountain,hydr'o'statically controlled means gov# erning the delivery of liquidfrom said reservoir to said fountain so as to maintain the fountainsolution between said operating levels and including a control bellassociated with said reservoir and having a depending skirt-like Walldefining an air chamber adapted to open into said fountain and withinwhich liquid is adapted t0 rise,

and fall to an extent comparable with the difference between saidoperating levels, the lower end of said skirt-like wall presentingthroughout its lateral extent a knife-like edge, a portion of which edgeis arched upwardly to a vertical eX- tent comparable With the diierencebetween said operating levels, an air tube leading from saidv chamberinto said reservoir, a liquid tube leading from said reservoir to saidchamber. i

JAMES R. EMERY, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 82,467 Wilson Sept. 22, 1868 1,530,657 Eummelen Mar. 24, 19251,958,593 Schultz May 15, 1934 1,961,085 Sherman May 29, 1934 2,207,527Weber Ju1y 9, 1940 2,351,863 Levenhagen June 20, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 722,107 France Dec. 28, 1931

